Systems and methods for managing consumption of media items

ABSTRACT

A database may include media account information for media accounts corresponding to media items, consumer account information for consumer accounts corresponding to consumers, and charge information for the media accounts. Media account information may include media account values for the media accounts. Consumer account information may include consumer account values for the consumer accounts. Charge information may define charge rules for consumption of the media items. An occurrence of a consumption event for a media item may be determined. Responsive to determination of the occurrence of the consumption event, consumption information may be generated. The consumption information may identify (1) consumer account of the consumer that consumed the media item, (2) date and/or time of the consumption, and (3) a type of the consumption. A consumer account value and a media account value may be changed based on the consumption information and/or the charge information.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to systems and methods that manage consumptionof media items.

BACKGROUND

Consumers may consume (e.g., play, view, change, listen to) a media itemby itself or with another media item. For example, a consumer may listento a song by itself or may listen to the song synchronized to a video.Based on the type of consumption, different rights of the media item maybe triggered.

SUMMARY

This disclosure relates to managing consumption of media items. Adatabase may include media account information for media accountscorresponding to media items, consumer account information for consumeraccounts corresponding to consumers, and charge information for themedia accounts. Media account information may include media accountvalues for the media accounts. Consumer account information may includeconsumer account values for the consumer accounts. Charge informationmay define charge rules for consumption of the media items. Anoccurrence of a consumption event for a media item may be determined.Responsive to determination of the occurrence of the consumption event,consumption information may be generated. The consumption informationmay identify (1) consumer account of the consumer that consumed themedia item, (2) date and/or time of the consumption, and (3) a type ofthe consumption. A consumer account value and a media account value maybe changed based on the consumption information and/or the chargeinformation.

A system that manages consumption of media items may include one or moreof physical storage media, processors, and/or other components. Thephysical storage media may store one or more databases and/or otherinformation. A database may include media account information for mediaaccounts corresponding to individual media items, consumer accountinformation for consumer accounts corresponding to individual consumers,charge information for individual media accounts, and/or otherinformation.

The media account information for individual media accounts may includea media account value and/or other information. The media accounts mayinclude a first media account corresponding to a first media item and/orother media accounts. The media account information for the first mediaaccount may including a first media account value and/or otherinformation.

The consumer account information for individual consumer accounts mayinclude a consumer account value and/or other information. The consumeraccounts may include a first consumer account corresponding to a firstconsumer and/or other consumer accounts. The consumer accountinformation for the first consumer account may include a first consumeraccount value and/or other information.

The charge information may define one or more charge rules forconsumption of individual media items. The charge information may defineindependent charge rules for independent consumption of individual mediaitems, derivative charge rules for derivative consumption of individualmedia items, and/or other charge rules. The charge information mayinclude first charge information for the first media account. The firstcharge information may define a first independent charge rule, a firstderivative charge rule, and/or other charge rules for the first mediaitem.

In some implementations, the database may include distribution accountinformation for a set of distribution accounts associated with the firstmedia account and distribution information associated with the firstmedia account. The set of distribution accounts may include one or moredistribution accounts. In some implementations, the set of distributionaccounts may include one or more rights-holder accounts. In someimplementations, the set of distribution accounts may include secondand/or other media accounts corresponding to second and/or other mediaitems.

The distribution account information for individual distributionaccounts may include a distribution account value and/or otherinformation. The distribution information may define one or moredistribution rules for distributing at least a portion of the increasein the first media account value among the set of distribution accounts.

The processor(s) may be configured by machine-readable instructions.Executing the machine-readable instructions may cause the processor(s)to facilitate managing consumption of media items. The machine-readableinstructions may include one or more computer program components. Thecomputer program components may include one or more of a consumptionevent component, a consumption information component, account valuecomponent, and/or other computer program components. In someimplementations, the computer program components may include a chargeinformation component, media information component, distributioncomponent, and/or other computer program components.

The consumption event component may be configured to determine anoccurrence of a consumption event for one or more of the media item. Theconsumption event component may determine an occurrence of a consumptionevent for the first media item based on the consumption of the firstmedia item by the first consumer.

The consumption information component may be configured to, responsiveto determination of the occurrence of the consumption event for thefirst media item, generate consumption information for the first mediaitem. The consumption information may identify (i) the first consumeraccount based on the first consumer's consumption of the first mediaitem, (ii) a date and/or a time of the first consumer's consumption ofthe first media item, (iii) a type of the first consumer's consumptionof the first media item, and/or other information. In someimplementation, the consumption information may identify one or moreconsumer devices used for the first consumer's consumption of the firstmedia item.

The account value component may be configured to change the firstconsumer account value, the first media account value, and/or otherinformation. In some implementations, changing the first consumeraccount value may include decreasing the first consumer account value bya charge value.

The first media account value may be changed based on the first chargeinformation and the consumption information. The first media accountvalue may be changed using the first independent charge rule based onthe consumption information indicating an independent consumption of thefirst media item and/or other information. The first media account valuemay be changed using the first derivative charge rule based on theconsumption information indicating a derivative consumption of the firstmedia item and/or other information. In some implementations, changingthe first media account value may include increasing the first mediaaccount value by at least a portion of the charge value.

The charge information component may be configured to set and/or changethe charge information. The charge information component may set and/orchange one or more rules for consumption of individual media items. Thecharge information component may set and/or change one or more of thefirst independent charge rule, the first derivative charge rule, and/orother charge rules for the first media item.

The media information component may be configured to store first mediainformation defining the first media item in one or more storage media.The media information component may be configured to provide the firstmedia information defining the first media item to a consumer device.

The distribution component may be configured to distribute at least aportion of the increase in the first media account value among the setof distribution accounts using the distribution rule and/or otherinformation. The distribution component may distribute at least theportion of the increase in the first media account value among one ormore rights-holder accounts, one or more other media accounts, and/orother accounts.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the systemand/or method disclosed herein, as well as the methods of operation andfunctions of the related elements of structure and the combination ofparts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent uponconsideration of the following description and the appended claims withreference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of thisspecification, wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however,that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and descriptiononly and are not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singularform of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system that manages consumption of media items.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for managing consumption of media items.

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary consumer accounts and consumer accountvalues.

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary media account, media account value, andmedia charge information.

FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary media account, media account value, mediacharge information, set of distribution accounts, and distributioninformation.

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary interface showing rights information for amedia item.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary system that includes consumer devices, aserver, and a network for managing consumption of media items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates system 10 for managing consumption of media items.System 10 may include one or more of processor 11, storage media 12,interface 13 (e.g., bus, wireless interface), and/or other components.Storage media 12 may store database 20. Database 20 may include mediaaccount information 21 for media accounts corresponding to media items,consumer account information 22 for consumer accounts corresponding toconsumers, and charge information 23 for the media accounts. Mediaaccount information 21 may include media account values for the mediaaccounts. Consumer account information 22 may include consumer accountvalues for the consumer accounts. Charge information 23 may definecharge rules for consumption of the media items. Processor 11 maydetermine an occurrence of a consumption event for a media item.Responsive to determination of the occurrence of the consumption event,processor 11 may generate consumption information. The consumptioninformation may identify (1) consumer account of the consumer thatconsumed the media item, (2) date and/or time of the consumption, and(3) a type of the consumption. A consumer account value and a mediaaccount value may be changed based on the consumption information and/orcharge information 23.

Storage media 12 may include electronic storage media thatelectronically stores information. Storage media 12 may store softwarealgorithms, information determined by processor 11, information receivedremotely, and/or other information that enables system 10 to functionproperly. For example, storage media 12 may store information relatingto databases, media items, media accounts, consumers, consumer accounts,charge rules, distribution rules, and/or other information. System 10may include electronic storage separate from storage media 12.Electronic storage separate from storage media may perform one or moreof the functionalities of storage media 12 discussed above.

Storage media 12 may store one or more databases and/or otherinformation. For example, storage media 12 may store database 20 and/orother information. Database 20 may include media account information 21for media accounts corresponding to individual media items, consumeraccount information 22 for consumer accounts corresponding to individualconsumers, charge information 23 for individual media accounts, and/orother information. In some implementations, database 20 may includedistribution account information 24 for a set of distribution accountsassociated with one or more media accounts and distribution information25 associated with one or more media accounts.

A consumer may refer to a person and/or an entity that may consume(e.g., play, view, change, listen to) media items. A consumer accountmay refer to an account/record in database 20 that corresponds to aparticular consumer. One or more consumer accounts for one or moreconsumers may be setup in database 20 by one or more consumers (e.g.,via consumer registration) or through linking with other consumeraccounts (e.g., linking with a consumer account setup in anotherdatabase).

A consumer account may include/store consumer account values and/orother information. The consumer account value may refer to a valuestored in database 20. The consumer account value may change based on aconsumer's consumption of one or more media items. The consumer accountvalue may refer to a value that may be used/spent as consideration forconsumption of media items and/or other transactions relating to mediaitems. For example, the consumer account value may refer to virtualcurrency and/or other numbers (e.g., points) that may be “spent” by aconsumer to play, view, change, listen to, and/or otherwise consumemedia items. The virtual currency and/or other numbers may be increased(e.g., credited, incremented) or decreased (e.g., debited, decremented)based on consumption of media items.

Consumer account information 22 for individual consumer accounts mayinclude a consumer account value and/or other information. For example,referring to FIG. 3, consumers may include consumer A 300, consumer B350, and/or other consumers. Consumer A account 310 and/or otherconsumer accounts may correspond to consumer A 300. Consumer accountinformation 22 for consumer A 300 may include consumer A account value315 and/or other information. Consumer B account 360 and/or otherconsumer accounts may correspond to consumer B 350. Consumer accountinformation 22 for consumer B 350 may include consumer B account value365 and/or other information.

Media items may refer to audio and/or visual content that may beconsumed by consumers. Media items may be static or dynamic. Media itemsmay include one or more of an image, a video, a sound, a song, a movie,and/or other media items. A media account may refer to an account/recordin database 20 that corresponds to a particular media item. One or moremedia accounts for one or more media items may be setup in database 20by one or more creators/users of media items (e.g., during media itemupload to a server) or through linking with other media accounts (e.g.,linking with a media account setup in another database).

A media account may include/store media account values and/or otherinformation. The media account value may refer to a value stored indatabase 20. The media account value may change based on consumption ofthe media item by one or more consumers. The media account value mayrefer to a value that reflects consumption of media items by one or moreconsumers and/or other transactions relating to media items. Forexample, the media account value may refer to virtual currency and/orother numbers (e.g., points) that may be increased based on a consumer'splaying, viewing, changing, listening, and/or other consumptionactivities of the media item.

Media account information 21 for individual media accounts may include amedia account value and/or other information. For example, referring toFIG. 4, media items may include media A 400 (e.g., an image, a video, asound, a song, a movie) and/or other media items. Media A Account 410and/or other media accounts may correspond to media A 400. Media accountinformation 21 for media A 400 may include media A account value 415and/or other information.

Charge information 23 may define one or more charge rules forconsumption of individual media items. For example, charge information23 may define one or more independent charge rules for independentconsumption of individual media items, one or more derivative chargerules for derivative consumption of individual media items, and/or othercharge rules. The type of consumption of media items may determine whichcharge rules (e.g., type of license for media items) are applicable.

An independent charge rule may refer to one or more instructions and/orarrangements by which consumer accounts value(s) and/or media accountvalue(s) may be changed in response to an independent consumption of amedia item. An independent consumption of a media item may refer aconsumption of the media by itself. An independent consumption of amedia item may include a consumption of the media without changes to themedia. For example, an independent consumption of a song may include auser listening to the song by itself, without any changes to the song.

A derivative charge rule may refer to one or more instructions and/orarrangements by which consumer accounts value(s) and/or media accountvalue(s) may be changed in response to a derivative consumption of amedia item. A derivative consumption of a media item may refer to aconsumption of the media item with another media item. A derivativeconsumption of a media item may include a consumption of the media withchanges to the media. For example, a derivative consumption of a songmay include a user listening to the song synchronized to a video and/ora remix of the song. A media item may be associated with one or multiplederivative charge rules. For example, a song may be associated withmultiple derivative charge rules that define particular changes inconsumer accounts value(s) and/or media account value(s) based on (1)whether the song is consumed with other song(s), sound(s), image(s),video(s), and/or movie(s), (2) how much of the song is consumed, (3) howmuch of the song is changed, and/or other derivative consumption of thesong.

In some implementations, charge rules may define one or more prohibitedconsumption of media items. For example, an independent charge rule mayprohibit an independent consumption of a media item, an independentconsumption of the media item at particular times/geographical areas, anindependent consumption of the media item by particular consumers,and/or other independent consumption of the media item. A derivativecharge rule may prohibit a derivative consumption of a media item, aparticular type of derivative consumption of the media item, aderivative consumption of the media item with another particular mediaitem, a derivative consumption of the media item at particulartimes/geographical areas, a derivative consumption of the media item byparticular consumers, and/or other derivative consumption of the mediaitem.

Charge information 23 may include different charge information fordifferent media items/media accounts. For example, referring to FIG. 4,charge information 23 may include media A charge information 420 formedia A account 410. Media A charge information 420 may define media Aindependent charge rule 422, media A derivative charge rule A 424, mediaA derivative charge rule B 426, and/or other charge rules forconsumption of media A 400.

In some implementations, a media account may be associated with a set ofdistribution accounts. A set of distribution accounts may include one ormore distribution accounts. A distribution account may refer to anaccount/record in database 20 that shares values (e.g., virtualcurrency, points) stored in a media account and/or receives values froma media account. A distribution account may correspond to a person, anentity, and/or a media item.

A distribution account may include/store distribution account valuesand/or other information. The distribution account value may refer to avalue stored in database 20. The distribution account value may changebased on consumption of the media item to which the distribution accountis associated. In some implementations, a set of distribution accountsfor a media item may include one or more rights-holder accounts.Rights-holder accounts may include accounts corresponding topersons/entities that hold rights in the media item. For example, amedia item may include a song and the set of distribution accounts forthe song may include one or more rights-holder accounts corresponding tothe writer(s) of the song, the performer(s) of the song, the producer(s)of the song, and/or other persons/entities holding rights to theconsumption of the song.

In some implementations, a set of distribution accounts for a media itemmay include media accounts corresponding to other media items. Forexample, a media item may include may include a remix of two songs, andthe set of distribution accounts for the song may include media accountscorresponding to the two songs used in the remixed song.

In some implementations, a set of distribution accounts for a media itemmay include one or more rights-holder accounts and one or more mediaaccounts. For example, a media item may include a synchronization of avideo and a music, and the set of distribution accounts may include arights-holder account corresponding to the person that synchronized thevideo and the music, a media account corresponding to the video, and amedia account corresponding to the music. Other combinations ofdistribution accounts are contemplated.

Database 20 may include distribution account information 24 for one ormore sets of distribution accounts associated with media account(s) anddistribution information 25 associated with the media account(s). Forexample, referring to FIG. 5, database 20 may include distributionaccount information 24 for set of distribution accounts A 600 associatedwith media B account 510. Media B 500 may include two rights-holders anda derivative use (e.g., remix, sampling, synchronization) of media A400. The two rights-holders of media B 500 may include twopersons/entities that modified media A 400 to create media B 500 and/orotherwise hold rights in media B 500. Referring to FIG. 5, set ofdistribution accounts A 600 may include rights-holder A account 610,rights-holder B account 620, media A account 410, and/or otherdistribution accounts.

Distribution account information 24 for individual distribution accountsmay include a distribution account value and/or other information. Forexample, distribution account information 24 for rights-holder A account610 may include rights-holder A account value 615 and distributionaccount information 24 for rights-holder B account 620 may includerights-holder B account value 625. In some implementations, one or morerights-holders may include one or more consumers, and rights-holderaccount value (e.g., 615, 625) may be included in consumer accountinformation 22. Media A account value 415 for media A account 410 may beincluded in distribution account information 24 and/or media accountinformation 21.

Distribution information 24 may define one or more distribution rulesfor distributing at least a portion of a media account value among a setof distribution accounts. A distribution rule may refer to one or moreinstructions and/or arrangements by which at least a portion of a mediaaccount value is distributed/split among a set of distribution accounts.The value to be distribution/split among a set of distribution accountsmay be distributed evenly among the set of distribution accounts orunevenly among the set of distribution accounts.

One or more distribution rules may be determined based on charge rulesfor one or more media items. For example, media B 500 may be created bychanging media A 400. Distribution rule A 632 may be determined usingmedia A derivative charge rule A 424, media A derivative charge rule B426, and/or other derivative charge rule for media A 400 based on howmedia A 400 was used to create media B 500. For example, media Aderivative charge rule A 424 may require 50% of earnings fromconsumption of media items that remixes media A 400 to be paid to mediaA account 410. Media A derivative charge rule B 426 may require acertain amount to be paid to media A account 410 for consumption ofmedia items that samples media A 400. Other determinations ofdistribution rules are contemplated.

Arrangement of distribution accounts may provide for a hierarchicaldistribution of values from a media account into other accounts. Forexample, media B account value 515 may be increased by a certain amountbased on a consumer's consumption of media B 500. Distributioninformation 24 may include distribution information A 630. Distributioninformation A 630 may define one or more distribution rules (e.g.,distribution rule A 632) for distributing a part or the entirety of theincreased amount in media B account value 515 among set of distributionaccounts A 600 (e.g., rights-holder A account 610, rights-holder Baccount 620, media A account 410). In some implementations, media Aaccount 410 may have a set of distribution accounts. A part or theentirety of the increase in media A account value 415 (e.g., receivedfrom media B account value 515) may further be distributed todistribution accounts associated with media A account 410.

In some implementations, application of one or more distribution rulesmay depend on the type of media consumption by one or more consumers.For example, a distribution rule A 632 may define differentdistributions of values from media B account 510 based on whether mediaB 500 is independently or derivatively consumed, and/or on theparticular type of derivative consumption. For example, media B 500 mayinclude a movie having a video part and an audio part. Distribution ruleA 632 may define different distributions of values from media B account510 among set of distribution account A 600 based on whether thederivative consumption of media B 500 used the video part of the movie,the audio part of the movie, and/or both the video and audio parts ofthe movie.

Processor 11 may be configured to provide information processingcapabilities in system 10. As such, processor 11 may comprise one ormore of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuitdesigned to process information, a central processing unit, a graphicsprocessing unit, a microcontroller, an analog circuit designed toprocess information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms forelectronically processing information. Processor 11 may be configured toexecute one or more machine readable instructions 100 to facilitatemanaging consumption of media items. Machine readable instructions 100may include one or more computer program components. Machine readableinstructions 100 may include one or more of consumption event component102, consumption information component 104, account value component 106,and/or other computer program components. In some implementations, thecomputer program components may include charge information component108, media information component 110, distribution component 112, and/orother computer program components.

Consumption event component 102 may be configured to determine anoccurrence of a consumption event for one or more media item. Aconsumption event for a media item may indicate a consumption of themedia item by a particular consumer. For example, consumption eventcomponent 102 may determine an occurrence of a consumption event formedia A 400 based on the consumption of media A 400 by consumer A 300.Consumption event component 102 may determine an occurrence of aconsumption event based on a consumer's playing, viewing, changing,listening, and/or other consumption activities of the media item.Consumption event component 102 may determine an occurrence of aconsumption event at the beginning of a user's consumption, during theuser's consumption, or at/after the end of the user's consumption. Insome implementations, consumption event component 102 may determine timeduration between multiple consumptions of a media item by a consumer.

Consumption information component 104 may be configured to, responsiveto determination of the occurrence of the consumption event for a mediaitem, generate consumption information for the media item. Theconsumption information may be stored in storage media 12 and/or otherelectronic storage. The consumption information may identify (i) aparticular consumer account based on a particular consumer's consumptionof the media item, (ii) a date and/or a time of the consumer'sconsumption of the media item, (iii) a type of the consumer'sconsumption of the media item, and/or other information. For example,responsive to determination of the occurrence of a consumption event formedia A 400 based on the consumption of media A 400 by consumer A 300,consumer information component 104 may generate consumption informationidentifying (i) consumer A account 310, (ii) a date and/or a time ofconsumption of media A 400 by consumer A 300, (iii) whether consumer A300 consumed media A 400 independently or derivatively, and/or otherinformation relating to consumption of media A 400 by consumer A 300.

In some implementations, consumption information may identifyinformation relating to derivative consumption of media items. Forexample, in response to a consumer's derivative consumption of media A400 and media B 500 (e.g., media A 400 and media B 500 include songs anda consumer listens to a remix of media A 400 and media B 500),consumption information component 104 may generate consumptioninformation that identifies how much of media A 400 and media B 500 wasconsumed in the derivative consumption, how media A 400 and media B 500was used in the derivative consumption, and/or other informationrelating to the derivative consumption of media A 400 and media B 400.

In some implementation, the consumption information may identify one ormore consumer devices used for the consumer's consumption of the mediaitem. A consumer device may refer to a computing device (e.g., computer,handheld device, phone, camera) through which the consumer may play,view, change, listen to, and/or otherwise consume a media item. Theconsumption information may identify a particular consumer device usedby consumer A 300 to consume media A 400.

Account value component 106 may be configured to change one or moreconsumer account values, one or more media account values, and/or otherinformation. Account value component 106 may change a consumer accountvalue based on a consumer's consumption of a media item. For example,account value component 106 may change consumer A account value 315based on consumption of media A 400 by consumer A 300. In someimplementations, changing a consumer account value may includedecreasing the consumer account value by a charge value. In someimplementations, changing a consumer account value may includeincreasing the consumer account value by a charge value.

A charge value may refer to an amount deducted from (or added to) theconsumer account for a consumption of a media item. The charge value maybe static or dynamic. For example, consumer A account value 315 may bedecreased by the same charge value (e.g., virtual currency, points)every time consumer A 300 consumes a media item (e.g., media A 400,media B 500). Consumer A account value 315 may be decreased by differentcharge values based on the particular media item consumed (e.g.,different charge values for consumption of media A 400 versus media B500), based on the type of consumption (e.g., independent consumption vsderivative consumption), the type of consumer device used to consume themedia item, and/or other information.

In some implementations, account value component 106 may not change aconsumer account value if it determines that a user has consumed a mediaitem multiple times within a certain time duration. For example, a usermay be charged a charge value for the first consumption of media B 500and may be allowed to consumed media B 500 again within a 24-hour periodwithout incurring additional charges.

In some implementations, account value component 106 may change aconsumer account value differently based on whether a consumerindependently consumes a media item, derivatively consumes a media item,or both independently and derivatively consumes a media item. Forexample, account value component 106 may change a consumer account valueby a certain charge value (e.g., 3) in response to an independentconsumption of media B 500. Account value component 106 may change aconsumer account value by a different charge value (e.g., 2) in responseto a derivative consumption of media B 500. Responsive to a consumer'sindependent and derivative consumption of media B 500, account valuecomponent 106 may change a consumer account value such that the totalcharged for the consumer's independent and derivative consumption ofmedia B 500 is less than the combination of the charge for theindependent consumption and the charge for the derivative consumption.For example, account value component 106 may change a consumer accountvalue by 3 in response to the independent consumption of media B 500. Inresponse to the consumer later derivatively consuming media B 500,account value component 1067 may change the consumer account value by anamount less than 2.

Account value component 106 may change one or more media account valuesbased on charge information 23 and the consumption information. Forexample, media A account value 415 may be changed using media Aindependent charge rule 422 based on the consumption informationindicating an independent consumption of media A 400 and/or otherinformation. Media account value 415 may be changed using media Aderivative charge rule A 424 or media A derivative charge rule B 426based on the consumption information indicating a particular derivativeconsumption of the media A 400 and/or other information. In someimplementations, changing one or more media account values may includeincreasing the media account values by at least a portion of the chargevalue. In some implementations, changing one or more media accountvalues may include decreasing the media account values by at least aportion of the charge value. For example, based on consumption of mediaA 400 by consumer A 300, consumer A account value 315 may be decreasedby a charge value. Account value component 106 may increase media Aaccount value 415 by the charge value or a portion of the charge value.

Increasing media A account value 415 by the charge value mayeffectuating a swap of the charge value from consumer A account value315 to media A account value 415. Increasing media A account value 415by a portion of the charge value may effectuate an extraction of aservice charge from the charge value. For example, a percentage of thecharge value may be stored in a service charge account and the remaindermay be added to media A account value 415. A service charge may refer toa charge on consumption of media items by a service provider (e.g.,media item hosting service). In some implementations, a service chargemay be taken out from a media account. In some implementations, aservice charge account may be included as a distribution account of amedia account.

Charge information component 108 may be configured to set and/or changecharge information 23. Charge information component 108 may set and/orchange one or more rules for consumption of individual media items. Forexample, charge information component 108 may set and/or change one ormore of media A charge information 420, media B charge information 520,and/or other charge information. Charge information component 108 mayset and/or change one or more of media A independent charge rule 422,media A derivative charge rule A 424, media A derivative charge rule B426, media B independent charge rule 522, media B derivative charge rule524, and/or other charge rules. Charge information component 108 may adda new independent charge rule, add a new derivative charge rule, removean independent charge rule, or remove a derivative charge rule fromcharge information 23.

Charge information component 108 may restrict persons/entities who mayset and/or change charge information 23 for different media items. Forexample, charge information component 108 may only allow one or morerights-holders of a media item to set and/or change charge information23 for the media item. Charge information 108 may restricts times duringwhich charge information 23 may be set and/or changed. For example,charge information component 108 may allow charge information 23 for amedia item to be set when the media item is created/uploaded to a mediaitem hosting service, and may allow charge information 23 for the mediaitem to be changed after charge information 23 has been initially set.Charge information component 108 may allow charge information 23 for amedia item to be changed during a certain time of day/week/month/year.In some implementations, charge information component 108 may monitorchanges in charge information 23 and notify consumers and/or rightsholders of changes in charge information 23.

Distribution component 112 may be configured to distribute at least aportion of the increase/decrease in a media account value among the setof distribution accounts using the distribution rule and/or otherinformation. Distribution component 112 may distribute at least theportion of the increase/decrease in the media account value among one ormore rights-holder accounts, one or more other media accounts, and/orother accounts. For example, distribution component 112 may distributeat least a portion of a charge value added to media B account value 515(responsive to consumption of media B 500) to one or more distributionaccounts in set of distribution accounts A 600. The entirety or aportion of the charge value may be distributed among rights-holder Aaccount 610, rights-holder B account 620, media A account 410, and/orother accounts based on distribution rule A 632.

In some implementations, the distribution of a charge value among a setof distribution accounts may be effectuated from initial transfer ofvalues from a consumer account. For example, rather than a charge valuebeing deducted from consumer A account value 315, added to media Baccount value 515, and then subsequently being distributed torights-holder A account value 615, rights-holder B account value 625,and media A account value 415, the charge value may be split up amongmedia B account value 515, rights-holder A account value 615,rights-holder B account value 625, and media A account value 415.

Media information component 110 may be configured to store mediainformation defining one or more media items in one or more storagemedia. Media information component 110 may store media informationduring creation of a media item or after the creation of the media item.For example, media information component 110 may store media informationfor a remixed song as a person remixes the song. Media informationcomponent 110 may store media information for the remixed song afterreceiving an indication that the remix of the song has been completed.Media information component 110 may store media information for a mediaitem after media information component 110 receives media informationfrom a remote location (e.g., a creator of a media item uploads themedia information).

In some implementations, media information component 110 may beconfigured to provide rights information for a media item. Rightsinformation for a media item may include information relating torights-holders of the media item and/or composition of the media item.For example, FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary rights interface 600 showingrights information for a derivative media item. Rights information for amedia item may include how much a creator of the media item may receivefor an independent consumption of the media item and a derivativeconsumption of the media item. The rights information for a media itemmay include how much distribution accounts may receive for a consumptionof the media item.

For example, rights interface 600 may provide information relating towhat other media items (e.g., Song A, Song B, Video C, Video D) areincluded in the derivative media item and the amount of the other mediaitems included in the derivative media item. The amount of the othermedia items may reflect what part of other media items are included inthe derivative media item. For example, 50% of song A, 75% of song B,100% of video C, and 20% of video D may be included in the derivativemedia item. The amount of the other media items may reflect what partsof the derivative media item are created from the other media items. Forexample, 25% of the derivative media item may include song A, 50% of thederivative media item may include song B (25% of the derivative mediaitem may not include song A or song B), 90% of the derivative media itemmay include video C, and 15% of the derivative media item may includevideo D (5% of the derivative media item may include both video C andvideo D).

Providing rights information for a media item may allow a media itemcreator to see the results of media item creation. Providing rightsinformation for a media item may allow a media item creator to changethe composition of the media item to arrive at a particular compositionand/or a particular distribution of rights (e.g., particular earningsfor independent and/or derivative consumption of the media item).

In some implementations, rights interface 600 may provide informationrelating to conflicting rights in derivative uses of media items. Forexample, a media item creator may attempt to use a video and a song tocreate a music video. The derivative charge rules for the video and thesongs may not allow the media item creator to create the music video asoriginally planned by the media item creator. For example, based on theamount of the video used in the music video, a derivative charge rulefor the video may require 60% of earnings from consumption of musicvideo to be paid to the media account for the video. Based on the amountof the song used in the music video, a derivative charge rule for thesong may require 90% of earnings from consumption of music video to bepaid to the media account for the song. Rights interface 600 may provideinformation about the conflicts in distribution rights for thederivative uses of the video and the song in the music video. Suchprovision of conflicting rights information may enable the media itemcreator to change the composition of the music video so that the musicvideo does not conflict with derivative charge rules of the video and/orthe song.

In some implementations, a media item creator may set and/or changedistribution information 25 for a media item. For example, the mediaitem creator of the music video may provide an alternative rightsdistribution than the rights distribution provided in rights interface600 (e.g., determined based on derivative charge rules for the video andthe song). The media item creator's alternative rights distribution maybe provided to other rights-holders for confirmation, rejection, orcounter-offer.

Media information component 110 may be configured to provide one or moremedia information defining one or more media item to a consumer device.Media information component 110 may provide one or more mediainformation to a consumer device upon reception of a request for theparticular media item(s). Media information component 110 may provideone or more media information to a consumer device upon confirmationthat the corresponding consumer account includes sufficient value to“pay for” the consumption of the media item(s). Media informationcomponent 110 may provide one or more media information to a consumerdevice after making changes to the corresponding consumer account value,media account values, and/or distribution account values.

Use of system 10 and the components of system 10 may enable efficientmanagement of account values based on consumption of media items. System10 may provide for derivative consumption of media items havingdifferent charge rules and/or different distribution rules (e.g.,different licenses for use/royalty payment). System 10 may provide forautomatic distribution of media account values for differentdistribution accounts. System 10 may provide information that enablescreators/consumers of media items to know when a particular consumptionof media item(s) is not allowed under the charge rules and/ordistribution rules, and may enable creators/consumers of media items tochange the consumption of media item(s) to find a particular permissibleconsumption of media item(s).

FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary system 700 including consumer devices 701,702, one or more servers 703, and network 704. Server(s) 703 may beconfigured to communicate with consumer devices 701, 702 through network704. Server(s) 703 may communicate with consumer devices 701, 702according to a client/server architecture. Server(s) 703 may provide oneor more processing functionalities disclosed herein for managingconsumption of media items. Server(s) 703 may provide for cloudcomputing and/or cloud storage for managing consumption of media items.For example, server(s) 703 may provide one or more functionalities ofconsumption event component 102, consumption information component 104,account value component 106, charge information component 108, mediainformation component 110, distribution component 112, storage media 12,and/or other components disclosed herein.

Users may use consumer devices 701, 702 to provide and/or consume mediaitems. For example, a user may use consumer device 702 (e.g., camera) toupload one or more media items (e.g., image, video) to server(s) 703.The uploaded media items may be available to one or more users of system700. A user may use consumer device 701 (e.g., handheld device) toconsume one or more media items stored in server(s) 703. For example, auser may use consumer device 701 to consume a remixed song. The remixedsong may include/use of 5 different songs. Based on the user's requestfor the remixed song, server(s) 703 may provide a stored version of theremixed song to consumer device 701; pull the 5 songs, and create andserve the remixed song; or pull and provide the 5 songs to consumerdevice 701 for remixing by consumer device 701. Based on the user'sconsumption of the remixed song, the media account values for theindividual songs may be increased. For example, the royalty forconsumption of the remixed song may be divided equally among the mediaaccount values—individual media account values may be increased by 20%of the royalty.

In some implementations, one or more media items may be suggested tousers for consumption. For example, one or more media items may beprovided in a list to a user based on the user's prior consumption ofmedia item, prior independent and/or dependent uses of media items,media items in the user's library (e.g., individual songs/genre of songsin the user's library), media items in other users' library associatedwith the user (e.g., libraries of friends of the user linked at variousportals), and/or other information. In some implementations, one or moremedia items may be suggested to users for consumption based on othermedia item(s) selected by the users for consumption. For example, a usermay have selected a surfing video for consumption. Based on the surfingvideo, one or more particular songs/music may be suggested to the userfor derivative consumption with the surfing video. In someimplementations, one or more media items may be suggested to users forconsumption using machine learning. In some implementations, server(s)703 and/or consumer devices 701, 702 may provide a warning to a userwhen a given media item does not provide sufficient privilege(s) for thedesired consumption (e.g., a particular type of derivative consumption)and/or requires additional royalties (e.g., $1) for consumption.

In some implementations, users may be required to login to a platform(e.g., via server(s) 703) to consume one or more media items. Forexample, a platform may include a trusted environment in which access tomedia items is restricted to members of the platform. To consume one ormore media items, users may be prompted to provide information thatauthenticates the users as members (e.g., a username or handle, anumber, an identifier, a login code, a password, a user ID).

Authenticated/validated users may be provided with access to the mediaitems. If not a member, users may be prompted to join and register asmembers to access the media items. In some implementations, access toone or more media items may be restricted based on the membership levelof the users. For example, a platform may include different levels ofmembership levels with different levels of access to media items.Different levels of access may define access to different media items(e.g., certain media items are available/not available to certainlevels) and/or may define access to different consumption of media items(e.g., certain types of derivative consumptions are available/notavailable to certain levels).

In some implementations, access to media items may be provide though azero trust environment. In a zero trust environment, distributed usersmay gain access to the media items based on verification of individualrequests for access to the media items. In some implementations, theconsumption of individual media items may be tracked via blockchain(transactional history) tracking. The amount of consumption of mediaitems may be reviewed on a periodic basis. For example, the amount ofconsumption of media items may be reviewed at the end of each 24-hour(or other time period) cycles.

Implementations of the disclosure may be made in hardware, firmware,software, or any suitable combination thereof. Aspects of the disclosuremay be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium,which may be read and executed by one or more processors. Amachine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputing device). For example, a tangible computer readable storagemedium may include read only memory, random access memory, magnetic diskstorage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, and others,and a machine-readable transmission media may include forms ofpropagated signals, such as carrier waves, infrared signals, digitalsignals, and others. Firmware, software, routines, or instructions maybe described herein in terms of specific exemplary aspects andimplementations of the disclosure, and performing certain actions.

Although processor 11 and storage media 12 are shown to be connected tointerface 13 in FIG. 1, any communication medium may be used tofacilitate interaction between any components of system 10. One or morecomponents of system 10 may communicate with each other throughhard-wired communication, wireless communication, or both. For example,one or more components of system 10 may communicate with each otherthrough a network. For example, processor 11 may wirelessly communicatewith storage media 12. By way of non-limiting example, wirelesscommunication may include one or more of radio communication, Bluetoothcommunication, Wi-Fi communication, cellular communication, infraredcommunication, or other wireless communication. Other types ofcommunications are contemplated by the present disclosure.

Although processor 11 is shown in FIG. 1 as a single entity, this is forillustrative purposes only. In some implementations, processor 11 maycomprise a plurality of processing units. These processing units may bephysically located within the same device, or processor 11 may representprocessing functionality of a plurality of devices operating incoordination. Processor 11 may be configured to execute one or morecomponents by software; hardware; firmware; some combination ofsoftware, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms forconfiguring processing capabilities on processor 11.

It should be appreciated that although computer components areillustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within a single processingunit, in implementations in which processor 11 comprises multipleprocessing units, one or more of computer program components may belocated remotely from the other computer program components.

The description of the functionality provided by the different computerprogram components described herein is for illustrative purposes, and isnot intended to be limiting, as any of computer program components mayprovide more or less functionality than is described. For example, oneor more of computer program components 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, and/or112 may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality may beprovided by other computer program components. As another example,processor 11 may be configured to execute one or more additionalcomputer program components that may perform some or all of thefunctionality attributed to one or more of computer program components102, 104, 106, 108, 110, and/or 112 described herein.

The electronic storage media of storage media 12 may be providedintegrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with one or morecomponents of system 10 and/or removable storage that is connectable toone or more components of system 10 via, for example, a port (e.g., aUSB port, a Firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.).Storage media 12 may include one or more of optically readable storagemedia (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media(e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.),electrical charge-based storage media (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, RAM, etc.),solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or otherelectronically readable storage media. Storage media 12 may be aseparate component within system 10, or storage media 12 may be providedintegrally with one or more other components of system 10 (e.g.,processor 11). Although storage media 12 is shown in FIG. 1 as a singleentity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations,storage media 12 may comprise a plurality of storage units. Thesestorage units may be physically located within the same device, orstorage media 12 may represent storage functionality of a plurality ofdevices operating in coordination.

FIG. 2 illustrates method 200 for managing consumption of media items.The operations of method 200 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some implementations, method 200 may be accomplishedwith one or more additional operations not described, and/or without oneor more of the operations discussed. In some implementations, two ormore of the operations may occur substantially simultaneously.

In some implementations, method 200 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, a central processingunit, a graphics processing unit, a microcontroller, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operation of method 200 in response to instructions storedelectronically on one or more electronic storage mediums. The one ormore processing devices may include one or more devices configuredthrough hardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designedfor execution of one or more of the operation of method 200.

Referring to FIG. 2 and method 200, at operation 201, an occurrence of aconsumption event for a media item may be determined. In someimplementation, operation 201 may be performed by a processor componentthe same as or similar to consumption event component 102 (Shown in FIG.1 and described herein).

At operation 202, consumption information for the media item may begenerated. In some implementations, operation 202 may be performed by aprocessor component the same as or similar to consumption informationcomponent 104 (Shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At operation 203, a consumer account value may be changed. In someimplementations, operation 203 may be performed by a processor componentthe same as or similar to account value component 106 (Shown in FIG. 1and described herein).

At operation 204, a media account value may be changed. The mediaaccount value may be changed based on the consumption information. Insome implementations, operation 204 may be performed by a processorcomponent the same as or similar to account value component 106 (Shownin FIG. 1 and described herein).

Although the system(s) and/or method(s) of this disclosure have beendescribed in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what iscurrently considered to be the most practical and preferredimplementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely forthat purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosedimplementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to covermodifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood thatthe present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one ormore features of any implementation can be combined with one or morefeatures of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for managing consumption of media items,the system comprising: physical storage media storing a database, thedatabase including: media account information for media accountscorresponding to individual media items, the media account informationfor individual media accounts including a media account value, the mediaaccounts including a first media account corresponding to a first mediaitem, the media account information for the first media accountincluding a first media account value; consumer account information forconsumer accounts corresponding to individual consumers, the consumeraccount information for individual consumer accounts including aconsumer account value, the consumer accounts including a first consumeraccount corresponding to a first consumer, the consumer accountinformation for the first consumer account including a first consumeraccount value; and charge information for the individual media accounts,the charge information defining independent charge rules for independentconsumption of the individual media items and derivative charge rulesfor derivative consumption of the individual media items, the chargeinformation including first charge information for the first mediaaccount, the first charge information defining a first independentcharge rule and a first derivative charge rule for the first media item;and one or more physical processors configured by machine-readableinstructions to: determine an occurrence of a consumption event for oneor more of the media items; and responsive to determination of theoccurrence of the consumption event for the first media item: generateconsumption information for the first media item, the consumptioninformation identifying (i) the first consumer account based on thefirst consumer's consumption of the first media item, (ii) a date and/ora time of the first consumer's consumption of the first media item, and(iii) a type of the first consumer's consumption of the first mediaitem; change the first consumer account value; and change the firstmedia account value based on the first charge information and theconsumption information, wherein: the first media account value ischanged using the first independent charge rule based on the consumptioninformation indicating an independent consumption of the first mediaitem; and the first media account value is changed using the firstderivative charge rule based on the consumption information indicating aderivative consumption of the first media item.
 2. The system of claim1, wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured bymachine-readable instructions to set or change the charge information.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processorsare further configured by machine-readable instructions to store firstmedia information defining the first media item in one or more storagemedia.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more physicalprocessors are further configured to provide the first media informationdefining the first media item to a consumer device.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the consumption information further identifies aconsumer device used for the first consumer's consumption of the firstmedia item.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein changing the firstconsumer account value includes decreasing the first consumer accountvalue by a charge value.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein changing thefirst media account value includes increasing the first media accountvalue by at least a portion of the charge value.
 8. The system of claim7, wherein: the database further includes: distribution accountinformation for a set of distribution accounts associated with the firstmedia account, the set of distribution accounts including one or moredistribution accounts, the distribution account information forindividual distribution accounts including a distribution account value;and distribution information associated with the first media account,the distribution information defining a distribution rule fordistributing at least a portion of the increase in the first mediaaccount value among the set of distribution accounts; and the one ormore physical processors are further configured by machine-readableinstruction to distribute at least the portion of the increase in thefirst media account value among the set of distribution accounts usingthe distribution rule.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the set ofdistribution accounts includes a rights-holder account.
 10. The systemof claim 8, wherein the set of distribution accounts includes a secondmedia account corresponding to a second media item.
 11. A method formanaging consumption of media items, the method comprising: changinginformation stored in a database based on consumption of media items,the database stored in physical storage media, the database including:media account information for media accounts corresponding to individualmedia items, the media account information for individual media accountsincluding a media account value, the media accounts including a firstmedia account corresponding to a first media item, the media accountinformation for the first media account including a first media accountvalue; consumer account information for consumer accounts correspondingto individual consumers, the consumer account information for individualconsumer accounts including a consumer account value, the consumeraccounts including a first consumer account corresponding to a firstconsumer, the consumer account information for the first consumeraccount including a first consumer account value; and charge informationfor the individual media accounts, the charge information definingindependent charge rules for independent consumption of the individualmedia items and derivative charge rules for derivative consumption ofthe individual media items, the charge information including firstcharge information for the first media account, the first chargeinformation defining a first independent charge rule and a firstderivative charge rule for the first media item; wherein changing theinformation stored in the database includes: determining an occurrenceof a consumption event for one or more of the media items; andresponsive to determination of the occurrence of the consumption eventfor the first media item: generating consumption information for thefirst media item, the consumption information identifying (i) the firstconsumer account based on the first consumer's consumption of the firstmedia item, (ii) a date and/or a time of the first consumer'sconsumption of the first media item, and (iii) a type of the firstconsumer's consumption of the first media item; changing the firstconsumer account value; and changing the first media account value basedon the first charge information and the consumption information,wherein: the first media account value is changed using the firstindependent charge rule based on the consumption information indicatingan independent consumption of the first media item; and the first mediaaccount value is changed using the first derivative charge rule based onthe consumption information indicating a derivative consumption of thefirst media item.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising settingor changing the charge information.
 13. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising storing first media information defining the first media itemin one or more storage media.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising providing the first media information defining the firstmedia item to a consumer device.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein theconsumption information further identifies a consumer device used forthe first consumer's consumption of the first media item.
 16. The methodof claim 11, wherein changing the first consumer account value includesdecreasing the first consumer account value by a charge value.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein changing the first media account valueincludes increasing the first media account value by at least a portionof the charge value.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the databasefurther includes: distribution account information for a set ofdistribution accounts associated with the first media account, the setof distribution accounts including one or more distribution accounts,the distribution account information for individual distributionaccounts including a distribution account value; and distributioninformation associated with the first media account, the distributioninformation defining a distribution rule for distributing at least aportion of the increase in the first media account value among the setof distribution accounts; and further comprising distributing at leastthe portion of the increase in the first media account value among theset of distribution accounts using the distribution rule.
 19. The methodof claim 18, wherein the set of distribution accounts includes arights-holder account.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the set ofdistribution accounts includes a second media account corresponding to asecond media item.